Letters to the editor, Nov. 20, 2012

Secession talk is latest childish behavior

Now that the election is over and the results are in, the reaction of the conservatives is ... secession. Really?

After four years of calling the president a socialist, a communist, a Nazi (you never could get your story straight); after four years of demanding to see everything except the contents of his underwear drawer; after four years of declaring that your sole legislative agenda was to ensure that the president was only a one-term president (how did that work out?); after four years of foot-dragging, wall-building, cliff-hanging uncooperative lawmaking that had no purpose except to embarrass and harass a sitting president at the expense of the country you were elected to serve; after all of that, the president manages to get re-elected. And your answer is ... secession.

Go home, little boys. Take your "secession" with you.

CHUCK GRAHAM

PENFIELD

On Election Day, voters failed to heal the nation

On Election Day, voters neglected to ease the economic and social unrest that's been plaguing America. As the skies darken upon our once-bright superpower, do we have the heart and courage to curtail the following future trends, or has America permanently lost her way?

? The risk of our nation imploding due to great political divisions, deteriorating economic conditions and protests over spending cuts on social programs like welfare and food stamps.

? Erosion of Americans' constitutional rights, and political-correctness as an excuse to silence free speech.

? Expansion of the liberal indoctrination of students at colleges and public schools.

? Irresponsible intelligence leaks by the Obama administration, jeopardizing our national security. More troubling is the growing Chinese, Iranian and Russian economic and military threat.

? Breakdown of the family and moral decay.

? Abortions approaching 55 million since 1973.

? Persecution of the righteous, and the United States becoming a secular, European-style nation.

ANTHONY P. LEVATINO

BRIGHTON

Clarkson flag pranksters ought to be ashamed

How disappointing! This newspaper did exactly what the pranksters wanted - printing a full-color picture and article about their crude un-American prank of reversing the American flag. How sad, too, that the Clarkson post office didn't immediately rectify the problem.

Too bad these pranksters were not taught by their parents or teachers the meaning of freedom and to respect our flag. Perhaps some day they will be called upon to defend our country as did those who so gallantry served and died for our freedom so we could raise the American flag - not upside down!

CAROLYN ETTINGER

PERINTON

Proposing a new pledge for political candidates

Now we mostly know who won their election. Sadly, we also know who lost - you and I. Although it is perfectly legal for outside money to pour into local races, your vote and mine gets severely devalued as a result. Since the chance of reforming campaign finance seems remote, a better idea might be to mirror the Grover Norquist "no taxes" pledge. Candidates should be asked to sign the new Diogenes Pledge which says:

"I pledge to accept no campaign contributions from any source outside my district. Further, I pledge to identify the source and amount of any contribution to my campaign."

Local TV stations could cover the Diogenes Pledge signing and then we can hold the candidates accountable. Who knows, it just might blunt the influence of those who don't live here and successful candidates could concentrate on representing you and me.

JIM COYNE

MENDON

Think about your larger 'family' during holidays

It's great that this country strongly promotes family, with brothers helping out sisters, grandparents interacting with grandchildren, children looking after their aging parents. However, here's an idea for Thanksgiving. What if everyone looked around themselves, in their work situations, social activities, YMCA acquaintances, volunteer friends, and made sure that everyone had a place to go for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and adopt someone for those holidays? Family doesn't end with your biological family. As the song goes, "we are family." In the end, we are all part of the human family. As Jesus said, "as you care for one of the least of these, you care for me."